Green walls are not only good for the eyes; they are also the environment’s best friend. This architectural concept whose popularity keeps surging by the day has been known to help urban cities achieve certain levels of sustainability, livability and green living.
You have probably come across the common narrative that Green Walls NYC contributes to the wellbeing of the environment in more ways than one. The question is, do you know how? Here are some of the top effects of vertical gardens on the environment.
1. The effect on biodiversity
Green Walls NYC go a long way in curbing the loss of biodiversity brought about by urbanization. Apart from plants, such walls consist of invertebrates and pollinators. All these elements in totality serve as habitat as well as nesting spots for a myriad of bird species. Furthermore, vine systems (the most common plants used in eco walls) restore approximately 60 — 100 times more CO2 than conventional trees.
2. Effect on air quality
Plants are natural filters which suck up CO2 from the atmosphere and replace it with the much-needed oxygen. This process is simply referred to as air cleaning. Having a green wall on your indoor or outdoor space is bound to improve the quality of air around it and also help filter air pollutants.
3. Cooling
A living green wall also makes for a great natural insulator. Expect your room to be 7-10 degrees cooler than a regular room if you have installed a green wall therein. Both the plants and the vertical garden itself provide a barrier that doesn’t permit the sun’s rays to pass through. This, in addition to their ability to reduce reflective light and heat, lead to reduced gas emissions and energy wastage.
4. Effect on noise and pollution
When it comes to noise reduction, a green wall does the job to perfection. The individual plants in the garden muffle high-frequency sounds and block certain low-frequency noises. The system also reduces the heat island effect where urban vegetation advances natural cooling processes such as photosynthesis and evapotranspiration. The walls can be integrated with recycled water systems so that as water collects at the bottom of the vertical garden, it is returned back to the top. Furthermore, plants also reduce pollution in cities by capturing particulate matter, sequestering carbon dioxide and reducing the summer heat through water evaporation via the plants’ medium.
Environmental health and green walls go hand in hand; you cannot install a vertical garden without enjoying all the environmental and societal benefits like natural healing, enhanced aesthetics of a given area and urban agriculture.